Impact of COVID-19 on the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia and aggravation of related symptoms: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who were admitted due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to show the effect of COVID-19 on BPH. METHODS: This prospective study included patients over the age of 45 admitted due to COVID-19 between June 2021 and December 2021 and treated with alpha-blockers for BPH. During admission, the patients were evaluated by prostate volumes, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values, and International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS). Furthermore, treatment duration due to COVID-19, frequency, nocturia, and voided volumes obtained from the voiding diary was recorded. Finally, the sequent IPSS values were compared by inviting the patients to the urology polyclinic in the first month. RESULTS: The mean age of 142 patients was 72.42 ± 10.21 years. The IPSS scores of the patients increased from 10.66 ± 4.46 to 12.99 ± 3.58 1 month after the diagnosis (p < 0.01). Moreover, the IPSS quality of life (QoL) scores were 2.44 ± 0.58 and 2.75 ± 0.51, respectively (p < 0.01). The mean frequency obtained from the voiding diary data increased from 5.10 ± 1.5 to 5.65 ± 1.36 (p < 0.01), mean nocturia count increased from 1.13 ± 0.05 to 1.39 ± 0.66 per day (p < 0.01), and the mean voiding volume decreased from 320.56 ± 46.76 ml to 298.84 ± 39.74 ml (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this study, we detected an increase in LUTS during COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, it should be noted that symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 patients may refer to urology polyclinics due to aggravation of LUTS.

Comparison of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in category IIIB chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a heterogenous condition that impacts the Quality of life severely, and it has multimodal complex treatment options. We aimed to compare the efficacy of two well-described neuromodulation therapies, transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) versus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in the treatment of category IIIB CP/CPPS. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized prospective clinical trial. We randomized category IIIB CP/CPPS patients into two treatment groups as TTNS and PTNS groups. Category IIIB CP/CPPS was diagnosed by two or four-glass Meares-Stamey test. All patients included in our study were antibiotic/anti-inflammatory resistant. Transcutaneous and percutaneous treatments were applied 30 min sessions for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated by Turkish-validated National Health Institute Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) initially and after treatment. Treatment success was evaluated within each group and also compared with each other. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients in the TTNS group and 42 patients in the PTNS group were included in the final analysis. The mean VAS scores of the TTNS group were lower than the PTNS group initially (7.11 and 7.43, respectively), (p = 0.03). The pretreatment NIH-CPSI scores were similar between groups (p = 0.07). VAS scores, total NIH-CPSI, NIH-CPSI micturation, NIH-CPSI pain, and NIH-CPSI QoL scores decreased significantly at the end of the treatment in both groups. We found a significantly higher VAS and NIH-CPSI scores decrease in the PTNS group compared to the TTNS group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Both PTNS and TTNS are effective treatment methods in category IIIB CP/CPPS. Comparing the two methods, PTNS provided a higher level of improvement in terms of pain and quality of life.

How effectively do we apply first-line treatment in overactive bladder?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to reveal the effectiveness of the combination of behavioral therapy (BT), drug therapy, and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in patients with the diagnosis of overactive bladder (OAB) who did not respond to drug therapy. METHODS: Seventy female patients aged between 18 and 65 years diagnosed with wet-type OAB, who did not respond to drug therapy, were included in our study, which was planned as a prospective randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. BT and a combination of anticholinergic + beta3-agonist was implemented in the control group for 12 weeks. BT and PFMT were applied with a combination of anticholinergic + beta3-agonist in the active therapy group for 12 weeks. Post-treatment changes in OAB, ICIQ-SF scores, and frequency and nocturia were compared. RESULTS: The age and BMI averages of the groups were similar (p>0.01). After the treatment, no significant decrease was observed in OAB scores in the control group (p = 0.06), but a significant decrease was observed in the active therapy group (p<0.01). The mean ICIQ-SF scores and the number of nocturia were found to decrease in both groups after 12 weeks of treatment (p<0.01). There was no significant decrease in frequency in the control group (p = 0.054). It regressed significantly in the active therapy group (p<0.01). After the treatment, 3 of 30 the patients in control group (10%) and 11 of the 32 patients in the active therapy group (34.3%) said that their complaints had regressed and that they were pleased with their current situation. Although after the treatment, 4 patients in the control group were dry (13.3%), 10 patients in the active therapy group were dry (31.25%). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that drug therapy, BT, and PFMT, which are recommended in the first-line treatment of OAB reduce the need for invasive treatments when they are well explained to the patients and combined.

A factor not to be ignored in post-COVID-19 erectile dysfunction; psychological effect, a prospective study.

It was aimed to show the effect of anxiety and depression on erectile dysfunction seen after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Between March and July 2021, the participants completed the International Index of Erectile Function, Beck Depression Inventory and Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 forms at the beginning and after the 1st month of the disease. We investigated the psychological impact of COVID-19 on the development of erectile dysfunction. The mean age of 156 male patients in the study was 54.74 ± 8.01 years. It was determined that the mean International Index of Erectile Function scores of the patients before COVID-19 were 73.42 ± 3.43 and decreased to 68.28 ± 12.86 after COVID-19 (p < .01). The patients' erectile function scores were significantly lower after COVID-19 (29.45 ± 1.23, 27.69 ± 4.33, p < .01, respectively). Their Beck Depression Inventory scores were statistically significantly higher after COVID-19 (1.69 ± 2.56, 2.22 ± 2.79, p < .01, respectively). Their Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scores were also statistically significantly higher after COVID-19 (4.69 ± 1.63 6.56 ± 2.40, p < .01, respectively). A negative correlation was found between the increase in the Beck Depression Inventory score during the pandemic process and the decrease in the International Index of Erectile Function score (r = -0.356, p = <.001). A negative correlation was also found between the increase in the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 score and the decrease in the International Index of Erectile Function score (r = -0.200, p = .012). One of the main factors post-COVID-19 erectile dysfunction is anxiety and depression due to the disease.

Changes in higher-order aberrations after vitrectomy for vitreomacular interface diseases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ocular wavefront aberrations after vitrectomy in patients with vitreomacular interface diseases. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with vitreomacular interface diseases were included in this prospective study. A Sirius topographer (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions, Germany) was used to measure corneal aberrations and a Hartmann Shack aberrometer (IRX-3; Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France) to measure ocular aberrations. Data were recorded at baseline and 3 months after vitrectomy. RESULTS: Eight patients were excluded due to the formation of cataract during the post-operation follow-up period. Data of 22 eyes (13 eyes with epiretinal membrane, two eyes with epiretinal membrane with vitreomacular traction, one eye with vitreomacular traction, and six eyes with macular hole) were analyzed for the study. The corneal aberrations such as coma, trefoil, spherical aberration, and root mean square of total higher-order aberrations did not significantly change after vitrectomy. The preoperative ocular aberrations such as coma 0.33 (0.14-0.47) µm, trefoil 0.28 (0.15-0.44) µm, root mean square of higher-order aberrations 0.51 (0.45-0.68) µm, root mean square of total aberrations 1.38 (1.16-2.60) µm were significantly reduced to 0.21 (0.14-0.29) µm, 0.20 (0.14-0.30) µm, 0.36 (0.21-0.52) µm, 0.15 (1.13-1.41) µm, respectively, after vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: The ocular higher-order aberrations were significantly reduced after vitreomacular surgery for vitreomacular interface diseases.

Comparison of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) protocols for women with refractory overactive bladder (OAB): A prospective randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) is a noninvasive method used in OAB treatment. Purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the TTNS procedure applied once a week and three times a week in women diagnosed with wet type refractory OAB. METHODS: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with wet type OAB that was refractory to medical treatment were included in the study. Participants were equally and randomly divided into two groups: TTNS treatment was performed with a duration of 30 minutes for 12 weeks, once a week to Group I and three times a week to Group II. Pretreatment and posttreatment OAB-V8/ICIQ-SF scores and voiding frequencies recorded in the bladder diary were compared between groups. RESULTS: Four patients in Group 1 and eight in Group 2 left the study without completing the treatment. TTNS was performed in both groups for 12 weeks. There was a significant decrease in the voiding frequency, OAB-V8, ICIQ-SF scores in both group 1 and group 2 (P < .001). A significant decrease in the OAB-V8 score was observed in the 5th week in Group 1, and in the 3rd week in Group 2. Complete response was observed in 6 patients (23.1%) in Group 1 after 12 weeks of TTNS procedure. In Group 2, 10 patients (45.5%) had a complete response. After the 12-week TTNS procedure, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of treatment response. CONCLUSION: TTNS can be safely used before invasive treatments in resistant OAB. TTNS procedure three times a week seems more effective than performing it once a week. What's known TTNS is one of the effective alternative treatments in resistant OAB treatment. What's new As the number of sessions is increased in TTNS treatment, the success of the treatment can increase.

Long term sustained therapeutic effects of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation treatment of neurogenic overactive bladder in multiple sclerosis patients: 12-months results.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the sustained therapeutic efficacy and treatment intervals for PTNS in NOAB with MS, offering periodic additional treatments during 1 year in patients who completed an initial course of 12 consecutive weekly sessions. METHODS: A total of 34 patients enrolled to the PTNS treatment and 21 patients completed the 1 year PTNS treatment with a tapering protocol of 6, 9, and 12 months of therapy, respectively. After 12 weeks of therapy, PTNS was applied at 14 day intervals for 3 months, 21 day intervals for 3 months, and 28 day intervals for 3 months. The patients completed a 3-day voiding diary at 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th month. The patients requested to complete validated questionnaires (ICIQ-SF, OAB-V8, OAB-q SF) were carried out within 3-month intervals thereafter during their enrolment in the study. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these 5 (23.8%) were men and 16 (76.2%) women. The improvements for all voiding diary parameters were significant in the 6th, 9th, and 12th months when compared with baseline. Mean values between baseline and 12 month parameters suggested that daytime frequency decreased by 5.4 voids daily, urge incontinence decreased by 3.4 episodes daily, urgency episodes decreased by 7.4 episodes daily, nocturia decreased by 2.6 voids, and voided volume improved by a mean of 72.1 cc. CONCLUSION: These results have demonstrated NOAB symptom improvement in MS patients can be achieved with 12 weekly PTNS treatments which show excellent durability over 12 months. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:104-110, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Surgical outcomes of patients with iridocorneal endothelial syndrome: a case series.

The purpose of this study is to report the intermediate-term surgical outcomes of patients with iridocorneal endothelial syndrome-related glaucoma. The medical records of four patients (five eyes) surgery (Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation surgery and EX-PRESS mini shunt) were retrospectively reviewed. Median follow-up after glaucoma surgery was 24 (15-36) months. The preoperative intraocular pressure was significantly reduced from a median of 33 (22.5-36) mmHg on a median of 4 (4-5) glaucoma medications to a median of 12 (10.5-14.5) mmHg on a median of 2 (0-2) medications at last follow-up after surgery (p = 0.043 for IOP and p = 0.042 for glaucoma medications). Median preoperative visual acuity [0.016 (0.008-0.1)] did not change significantly when compared to median visual acuity at last follow-up [0.016 (0.004-0.5)] (p = 0.59). Intraocular pressure control in patients with iridocorneal endothelial syndrome is challenging and may require multiple operations and revisions. Some modifications during glaucoma drainage implant surgery and use of EX-PRESS mini shunt in certain cases could offer an advantage in these patients.

Correlation of Dry Eye Workshop Dry Eye Severity Grading System With Tear Meniscus Measurement by Optical Coherence Tomography and Tear Osmolarity.

OBJECTIVES: To compare tear meniscus measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and tear osmolarity with dry eye severity according to the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) classification system. METHODS: Forty-four eyes of 22 patients with dry eye disease (DED) were recruited in this prospective study. In all eyes, ophthalmic examination was performed in the same order as follows: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) survey, tear film osmolarity measurement with TearLab Osmolarity System, tear meniscus measurements by OCT, corneal fluorescein staining scoring, conjunctival lissamine green staining scoring, tear film breakup time assessment, and anesthetized Schirmer test. Dry eye disease severity was graded according to the DEWS dry eye severity grading system, and the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 composed of the patients with grades 1 and 2 DED, and group 2 composed of the patients with grades 3 and 4 DED. RESULTS: The mean tear osmolarity value was significantly higher in group 2 (318.9±12.8 mOsm/L) than in group 1 (308.1±8.5 mOsm/L) (P<0.01). The mean tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) values were significantly lower in group 2 (172.9±73.5 µm, 121.57±46.2 µm, and 0.013±0.012 mm, respectively) than in group 1 (218.5±70.2 µm, 157.94±49.1 µm, and 0.022±0.013 mm, respectively) (P=0.05, P=0.02, and P=0.026, respectively). There was a negative correlation between TMH and OSDI at the level of 45% (r=-0.450; P<0.05), between TMD and OSDI at the level of 47% (r=-0.470, P<0.05), and lastly between TMA and OSDI at the level of 48.5% (r=-0.485, P<0.05). There was no correlation between OSDI and tear osmolarity (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both tear osmolarity and tear meniscus OCT measurements comply with the DEWS grading system, and they can be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of dry eye patients in addition to conventional tests.

Comparison of supine-prone percutaneous nephrolithotomy methods in the treatment of kidney stones in pediatric patients: prospective randomized study.

Mini-PCNL is one of the most effective surgical methods in the treatment of kidney stones in pediatric patients. In this study, we aimed to compare PCNL in the supine-prone position in pediatric patients (especially operation time, postop complications, hospital stay and stone-free rates).We conducted our study in a randomized and prospective manner. Patients with lower pole stones larger than 1 cm, stones larger than 1.5 cm in the pelvis, upper pole, midpole or multiple locations, and patients who did not respond to ESWL or whose family that preferred mini-PCNL to be the primary treatment were included in the study. Patients with any previous kidney stone surgery, patients with coagulation disorders and patients with retrorenal colon were excluded from the study. Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 144 patients underwent PCNL. 68 of these patients had supine PCNL and 76 prone PCNL. Postoperative Clavien grade1 complication occurred in a total of 7 patients in the prone position; Clavien grade1 complication occurred in 1 patient in the supine position. The mean operation time for prone PCNL was 119.88 ± 28.32 min, and the mean operative time for supine PCNL was 98.12 ± 14.97 the mean hospitalization time in prone PCNL was 3.56 ± 1.12 days, and 3.00 ± 0.85 days in supine PCNL. In conclusion, supine PCNL is a safe and effective method in the treatment of pediatric kidney stones and postoperative complications were observed to be less; the operation time and hospital stay were shorter in supine PCNL.

Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection before Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) before Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: This retrospective, comparative and consecutive case series study included 41 eyes from 41 patients who underwent AGV implantation for treatment of NVG. The study group was composed of 19 patients (19 eyes) to whom IVB was administered before surgery, while the control group was composed of 22 patients (22 eyes) to whom IVB was not administered before AGV implantation. Findings such as intraocular pressures measured before and after surgery, surgical success rates, and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in preoperative data between groups. The surgical success rate in the study group (79%) was better than in the control group (64%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.28). Early postoperative complications such as fibrinous reaction in the anterior chamber as well as hyphema were less frequently observed in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab is a useful preparatory step to safely and effectively implant an aqueous shunting tube in eyes with severe NVG and intractable intraocular pressure.

Could twinkling artifact be a parameter in predicting the success of shock wave lithotripsy? A prospective study.

Introduction: It is important to predict success before the treatment of urolithiasis. We aimed to predict the success of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) by comparing twinkling artifact (TA) revealed through colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) with stone density in non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT). Material and methods: Eighty patients who underwent SWL between January 2021 and January 2022 were included in the study. Patients with stones of 5-20 mm in the renal pelvis and proximal ureter at NCCT were included. Patients' demographics, Hounsfield units (HU) in NCCT, and TA grades in CDUS were recorded. The stone-free rate after SWL, additional treatments, overall success rates, and the association between TA and success rates were evaluated. Results: The mean age was 47.41 ±15.08 years. The mean BMI was 24.49 ±3.67 kg/m2. Twenty-three (28.8%) patients were TA grade 0, 33 (41.2%) patients were grade 1, and 24 (30%) were grade 2. The mean HU of TA grades 0, 1, and 2 of stones were 628 ±107, 864 ±123, and 1166 ±292, respectively. The HU increased along with the increase in the TA grade of the stone (p <0.01). The mean number of SWL sessions was 2.26 ±0.75 in patients with TA grade 0, and 2.92 ±0.40 in patients with TA grade 2. The mean number of SWL sessions increased along with the increase in TA grade (p <0.01). The stone-free rate decreased as the TA grade increased. Stone diameter and TA were the only predictors of SWL success. Conclusions: We think that TA may be useful in predicting SWL success.

Distinct Adverse Clinical Outcomes of Small and Large Cribriform Patterns on Gleason 7 Prostate Cancer: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of large and small cribriform morphology on survival following radical prostatectomy. METHODS: We included 30 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy with curative intent between 2015 and 2022. Patients with the final pathology of Gleason 7 were included. Patients' radical prostatectomy specimens were reviewed by an experienced genitourinary pathologist. The diverse growth patterns of Gleason grade 4 were specified as poorly formed/fused glands, cribriform glands, and glomeruloid glands. The cribriform morphology was subdivided into small and large cribriform. Large cribriform growth morphology was defined by its size, which was double that of benign prostate glands. Small and large cribriform glands' percentages were indicated semiquantitatively. The cribriform morphology subtype present at 50% and higher was defined as the dominant pattern. The effect of histopathological patterns on biochemical recurrence and clinical progression was analyzed. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were small cribriform pattern dominant (group 1), whereas 14 of the patients were large cribriform pattern dominant (group 2). Pathological T, N stages, and surgical margin positivity were similar between groups. Biochemical recurrence and clinical progression rates were significantly higher in group 2. The large cribriform dominant patients had worse 2-year biochemical recurrence-free survival than small cribriform dominant patients (45.5% vs. 66.7%). In the univariate analysis, International Society of Urological Pathology grade, Gleason pattern 4 percentage, large cribriform pattern dominancy, and pT stage were predictors for biochemical recurrence-free survival. International Society of Urological Pathology grade was the only independent predictor for biochemical recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: Large cribriform pattern dominancy is associated with worse biochemical recurrence-free survival in Gleason 7 prostate cancer.

Does Tamsulosin use before Ureteroscopy Increase the Success of the Operation?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of preoperative tamsulosin use on the success and complications rates of ureteroscopy for ureteral stone removal. STUDY DESIGN: A randomised clinical trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Urology, Dursun Odabas Medical Center, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, from December 2020 to June 2021. METHODOLOGY: Patients were scheduled for ureteroscopy due to ureteral stones, and were randomly divided into two groups; 67 patients preoperatively were given 0.4 mg tamsulosin for 7 days and 70 patients were not given tamsulosin. Each patient's intraoperative surgical complications, preoperative and postoperative pain, postoperative fever, need for analgesia, stone-free rate, and double J ureteral stent (DJ) insertion rates were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients, 103 (75.1%) males, and 34 (24.8%) females, were included. In 70 (51.1%) of these patients, the stone was on the right side, while in 67 (48.9%) the stone was on the left side. The stone was in the distal ureter in 47 (34.3%) patients, in the middle in 38 (27.7%) patients, and the proximal in 52 (37.9%) patients. The patients who were given tamsulosin had lower preoperative visual analog scale (p=0.02), operation time (p=0.003), post-ureteroscopic lesion scale (p=0.01), postoperative 24th-hour visual analog scale (p=0.03), fever (p=0.02), and analgesic need (p=0.04), while their rate of accessing the stone (p=0.02); and their stone-free rates (p=0.02) was higher. CONCLUSION: Preoperative tamsulosin use increases the success of the operation and reduces complications. Key Words: Tamsulosin, Ureteral calculi, Ureteroscopy.

Efficacy of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of bladder pain syndrome.

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of transcutaneos tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in the treatment of bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Materials and methods: The data of 16 female patients, diagnosed with BPS in our clinic between 2019 and 2021 and had TTNS twice a week for 12 weeks, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.00 ±â€Š13.11 years, and the mean body mass index was 26.43 ±â€Š3.07 kg/m2. After the treatment, the median day time frequency of the patients decreased from 13.37 (3.69) to 10.25 (4.56) (p < 0.001). Nocturia also decreased after treatment from 4.37 (1.81) to 3.00 (1.94) (p = 0.001). The median voiding volume increased by 26.5 mL (p = 0.001). The median of the patients' visual analog scale scores decreased after treatment (median of visual analog scale score changed from interquartile range 8 [1] to 7 [4]) (p = 0.001). In addition, the median interquartile range interstitial cystitis symptom index scores decreased from 17 (4) to 15 (10) (p = 0.002). Conclusions: In this study it was demonstrated that TTNS is an alternative method that can be successfully applied before invasive methods in the treatment of BPS.

First-line treatment posterior tibial nerve stimulation in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of first-line treatment posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), applied once a week for a 12 week period, as a treatment modality for patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 39 female patients with IC/BPS were enrolled in the study. Patients had one 30-minute session of PTNS per week for 12 weeks and symptoms were assessed before and after the treatment sessions by the use of a voiding diary, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis symptom index (ICSI), and O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis problem index (ICPI). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.9 ±7.1 years. The improvements in voiding diary parameters after 12 weeks of PTNS treatment were statistically significant compared to baseline but the changes in nocturia, and average voiding volume were not statistically significant. Mean parametric improvements after 12 weeks of PTNS treatment compared to baseline included a daytime frequency decrease by 3.8 voids daily, urgency episodes decrease by 4.7 episodes daily, nocturia decrease by 0.3 voids and voided volume improvement by a mean of 8.4 ml. The difference for ICSI, ICPI and VAS between baseline and the 12th week of PTNS treatment scores demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain severity, symptom and problem index. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study demonstrated the improvements of voiding diaries, ICSI, ICPI and VAS scores in patients with IC/BPS after 12 weeks PTNS. PTNS treatment is a beneficial firs-line treatment option to IC/BPS symptom amelioration.

C-C coupling formation using nitron complexes.

A series of RuII (1), RhIII (2), IrIII (3, 4), IrI (5) and PdII (6-9) complexes of the 'instant carbene' nitron were prepared and characterized by 1H- and 13C-NMR, FT-IR and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of complexes 1-4 and 6 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The catalytic activity of the complexes (1-9) was evaluated in alpha(α)-alkylation reactions of ketones with alcohol via the borrowing hydrogen strategy under mild conditions. These complexes were able to perform this catalytic transformation in a short time with low catalyst and base amounts under an air atmosphere. Also, the PdII-nitron complexes (6-9) were applied in the Suzuki-Miyaura C-C coupling reaction and these complexes successfully initiated this reaction in a short time (30 minutes) using the H2O/2-propanol (1.5 : 0.5) solvent system. The DFT calculations revealed that the Pd0/II/0 pathway was more preferable for the mechanism.

Can the Irisin be a Biomarker for Prostate Cancer? A Case Control Study.

AIM: There is much evidence of an association between cancer and irisin that is an adipokine. This study researched on the relationship between prostate cancer (PCa) and irisin levels, and whether irisin can be used as a biomarker in the diagnosis of PCa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the study groups, 50 primary PCa patients and 30 healthy male subjects were included in the PCa and healthy control groups, respectively. All volunteers in the healthy control group were screened for prostate cancer and other malignancies and chronic diseases. Volunteers who were determine to be completely healthy were included for healthy control group. In the serum samples of the subjects were measured free PSA, total PSA and irisin levels. Irisin levels were compared separately in terms of the Gleason scores and T stage. In addition to intergroup comparisons, the ROC curve for the irisin was plotted and power analysis was performed. RESULTS: Free and total PSA levels in the PCa group were significantly higher compared to the healthy control group (p<0.05). In addition, irisin levels in the PCa group were significantly lower  than in the healthy control group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between irisin levels in the groups classified in terms of Gleason scores (p>0.05).  When the cut-off value was taken as 8.1, the sensitivity and specificity of irisin for PCa were as 80.5% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the levels of irisin in the PCa group are considerably reduced and irisin may be used as a biomarker as well as free and total PSA.

Structure-Function Relationship Between the Bruch Membrane Opening-based Minimum Rim Width and Visual Field Defects in Advanced Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the Bruch membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) (global and temporal) parameters with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and visual field (VF) sensitivity on the 10-2 test in patients with advanced glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational study included a total of 33 eyes of 29 patients. To evaluate VF sensitivity, automated white-on-white perimetry was performed using a Humphrey field analyzer. The mean deviation (MD) and pattern SD values were used to characterize the degree of functional damage. BMO-MRW and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were obtained with SD-OCT. According to the Garway-Heath map and fovea and BMO axis, the 90 degrees temporal sector of the optic disc corresponding to the central VF was divided into upper and lower parts. RESULTS: The upper and lower temporal BMO-MRW parameters showed stronger correlations with the MD parameters of their corresponding VFs when compared with both global and temporal MRW parameters. Global and temporal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness parameters were also correlated with global MD parameters. CONCLUSIONS: BMO-MRW measurements in the upper and lower parts of the 90 degrees temporal sector of the optic nerve head by SD-OCT and their corresponding VF sensitivity on the 10-2 test were found highly correlated. These BMO-MRW measurements could offer a means of predicting the status of visual hemifields in patients who are unable to undergo VF testing. Further longitudinal studies with larger series evaluating BMO-MRW parameters with SD-OCT are also needed to monitor progression in advanced glaucoma.

In vivo biometric evaluation of Schlemm's canal with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in pseuduexfoliation glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To perform in vivo imaging of the Schlemm's canal (SC) with anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography [AS-spectral-domain (SD)-OCT] and also to measure its biometric parameters including the SC length and SC area in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma. METHODS: Forty-one consecutive patients with PEX glaucoma and 41 age- and sex-matched normal subjects were enrolled. All subjects underwent imaging with SD-OCT. The SC length and SC area were examined in the temporal sections and measured with customized software. RESULTS: The percentages of the temporal sections in which SC was observable were similar between the two groups. Mean SC length was found significantly shorter, and mean SC area was found significantly smaller in patients with PEX glaucoma than in controls (p = 0.044 and p = 0.036, respectively). Mean intra-ocular pressure (IOP) values were also similar between two groups. No significant correlations were found between SC measurements and IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography offers non-invasive, in vivo measurement of the SC, and it could be used for investigating the SC changes in patients with PEX glaucoma.